5-Day Beijing & Xi’an Ancient Capitals Tour by High-Speed Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Upon your arrival in Beijing, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrivals area or exit and take you to your hotel.

   After check-in, rest to recover from your journey. If you arrive early, try some local dishes for dinner and your guide can recommend according to your taste.

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   4-star hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Temple of Heaven & Mutianyu Great Wall
   Walk Through Imperial Altars and Climb the Great Wall

   The first stop of your Beijing tour is the Temple of Heaven where the Ming and Qing emperors worshiped the heaven.

   Walk through the park to visit the iconic buildings such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and admire the blue glazed tiles, circular architecture and open spatial layout. Your guide will introduce the ancient royal tradition of sacrificing to Heaven and the meanings behind these buildings.

   

   Beyond the temple complex, you will see locals doing morning exercises, singing or playing chess in the park, offering you a glimpse into local life.

   Drive about 1.5 hours to Mutianyu Great Wall. After taking the cable car up the mountain, walk along the wall and the watchtowers, and enjoy the views of the Great Wall winding along the mountain ridge. You can adjust the hiking distance based on your fitness level.

   For the descent, you can take the cable car back down. If you prefer, choose the toboggan or chairlift depending on availability.

   

   On the way back to downtown Beijing, make a short stop at Olympic Park to see the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube from the outside.

   Optional Dinner: If interested, taste Beijing-style copper pot hot pot in the evening. Thinly sliced mutton is boiled in a copper pot and served with sesame paste.

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   4-star hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing City Center
   Explore Imperial Palaces and Old Beijing Hutongs

   Start today from the heart of old Beijing. First, visit Tian’anmen Square to see the gate tower and surrounding buildings, then walk through it into the Forbidden City.

   Follow the central axis to explore the main palaces and courtyards. Your guide will explain the layout, the functions of the main palaces and the decorative details and share stories about the royal ceremonies of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the everyday life of the royal family.

   

   Experience the life of old Beijing in hutongs. Take a rickshaw through the narrow alleys lined with quadrangle courtyards, gate towers and historic residential streets.

   Step inside a local family’s home to see a traditional living space and learn about the daily life in the hutongs. You can also join hands-on cultural activities such as paper-cutting and calligraphy.

   After the tour, head to Beijing West Railway Station and take the high-speed train to Xi'an. The journey takes about five hours. After arriving at Xi'anbei Railway Station, a local driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel for rest.

   

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   4-star hotel in Xi'an
4. Day 4: Xi'an Must-see Landmarks
   Discover Terracotta Warriors and Wander Through Ancient Temples and Pagodas

   Set out for the Terracotta Army Museum this morning. Walk through the exhibition halls to view the life-sized underground military formation from elevated walkways, and then take a closer look at the warriors’ faces, hairstyles, clothing and gestures.

   You can also learn how archaeologists sort, pieced together and restored thousands of unearthed fragments into complete pottery figurines. Your guide will explain the craftsmanship and archaeological discoveries of the Terracotta Army in relation to the historic relics.

   

   After lunch, return to the downtown area and visit the Daci'en Temple and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

   Walk around the temple to learn about the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang, who brought Buddhist scriptures back from India and translated them in Chang'an (ancient Xi’an). Gain a deep insight into the role of Chang'an as a cultural exchange center at that time.

   If interested, climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (optional) to get views of the surrounding cityscape and see the cultural relics preserved inside.

   

   Optional Night Activity: Take a leisurely walk in the Datang Everbright City, try on traditional Hanfu for photos or watch Tang Dynasty dance and song performances.

   Return to your hotel to rest after the visit.

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   4-star hotel in Xi'an
5. Day 5: Xi’an Downtown Highlights
   Uncover Ancient Heritage and Savor Muslim Cuisine

   After breakfast, head to the Xi'an Museum Scenic Area. Stroll around the park to see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the surrounding ancient buildings. Then, explore the museum to see the cultural relics and learn about the development, daily life and religious art of ancient Chang'an.

   

   Move to the Hanguang Gate. Before going up the city wall, see the preserved wall remains from different historical periods to understand the development of the city’s ancient defense system.

   Ascend the Ancient City Wall for a walk and glimpse the contrast between the old streets and alleys and the modern urban landscape. If interested, you can rent a bike to cycle atop the wall and take in the cityscape from different perspectives.

   

   Finally, visit the Muslim Quarter and the surrounding lanes. Along the street, you’ll find halal restaurants, traditional pastry shops, dried fruit stores, and various local snacks and Muslim food.

   Your guide and driver will then transfer you to the airport or train station according to your departure schedule, ending your 5-day Beijing and Xi'an tour. Wish you a pleasant onward journey!

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